10 Tips For a Smarter Home

Thanks to Direct Energy for sponsoring today’s discussion.

If you’re like us, you’re always looking for ways to save a little money. Take a look at your electric bill and see what you can do make it a little easier on the wallet.

I’m a stay at home mom now, which means my television is on most of the day (not that we’re always watching it), the computer is usually on, and during the summer/winter the AC/heat is on. When I was working, there were days that no one was home for over 10 hours. During that time, we were able to change our thermostat up/down to account for no one needing it. Since this is not the case anymore, we’re working on other ways to make our home smarter.

One thing we’ve really been trying to do is use more natural light during the day. We have a big window in our living room and with our new blinds, we get more light through the window than we would if the light was on. Remembering to turn the lights off is hard for anyone. If we don’t turn them on- we don’t forget.

Another way we conserve energy is by using our ceiling fan instead of turning on the AC as soon as it gets a bit too warm. The same concept applies to using blankets to keep warm.

Need help thinking of ways to make your home smarter and more convenient? Direct Energy has a mixture of energy efficiency and smart home ideas for you!

1. Install a smart thermostat, such as the Nest Learning Thermostat. Smart thermostats offer you climate control, the convenience of programming away from home, and more.

2. Your living room typically has multiple active light sources available. Make sure your lighting is energy efficient by switching traditional bulbs to CFLs or LEDs.

3. Keep lots of blankets around. We have blankets on our couch, chair, and in a bench for easy access. I’d much rather cuddle up with a blanket than turning the heat up.

4. Replace the showerhead in your bathroom(s) with low flow showerheads. These showerheads regulate the flow of water, assuring you a more efficient shower.

5. Installing light dimmers can save cut your electricity use 40% over time and make your lightbulbs last 20 times longer.

6. Use an automated pet food and water dispensing system so you don’t have to worry about feeding your pets if you happen to be away from home for longer than you had intended.

7. Take a look at where your furniture is in the room. Are you blocking heat registers and air return ducts? If you are, move your furniture to allow better air flow.

8. Planting trees in optimal spots on your property will provide shade during the warmer months making your system work less hard to cool your home down.

9. Even when your appliances are turned off, they are still using electricity. Use smart power strips to combat energy vampires. Think about your toaster, coffee maker, and lamps.

10. Keep your freezer full. An empty freezer uses more energy to keep cold than a full one.

At Direct Energy, we are committed to helping our customers build a smarter home, and thus cut down on their energy usage – saving the customer time and making their lives easier. Currently we’re offering the opportunity for anyone to learn more about creating a smarter home by visiting our Facebook page, or exploring our Comfort & Control Plans.

Our Comfort & Control Plans 24 or 36 month plans offer fixed rate price stability, and a Nest Learning Thermostat (a $249 value) at no cost to you.

Direct Energy is hosting a sweepstakes where 5 lucky winners will have the chance to win Nest Learning Thermostats! To enter the sweepstakes, visit the campaign landing page and simply fill out the entry form. If you’re mobile, use this link instead. How easy is that? The giveaway will take place from Wednesday, October 1st to Wednesday, October 22nd. Winners will be selected in Mid-November.

What do you do to make your home smarter?